Risk assessment of sunflower, soy, rapeseed & co.

The examination of residues & contaminants has a special significance due to their large number:

• Pesticide residues can be tested by a pesticide multi-screening adapted to oilseeds. In addition, acid herbicides, glyphosate and chlormequat/mepiquat should also be checked.
• Residues of storage pesticides in relation to oilseeds in general can be fumigants such as phosphane, bromide and ethylene oxide. These residues may originate from direct application or as carry-over from treated silos or containers in transit. Changes in the treatment of raw materials can result in an increased microbiological risk (e.g. salmonella) and must be considered separately.
• The occurrence of mycotoxins is influenced by weather and storage conditions, e.g. Alternaria toxins in sunflower seeds and sesame seeds (see also Monitoring Recommendation of EU Commission 2022/553 of 05.04.2022). Risk-based testing of aflatoxins and Ochratoxin A in oilseed rape and aflatoxins, Ochratoxin A and Fusarium toxins in soya is recommended. For zearalenone in maize germ oil there is a maximum level in the Contaminants Regulation (EC) 2023/915.
• Tropane alkaloids can end up as botanical contaminants in oilseeds via the harvest. Even though there are currently no limit values for oilseeds, we recommend checking them, e.g. in soy and sunflower seeds.
• Environmental contaminants can vary in their presence depending on the country of origin and the uptake behaviour of the plants.
  With regard to heavy metals, different limit values for sunflower seeds (0.5 mg/kg) and rape seeds (0.15 mg/kg) have to be taken into account, among others, with regard to cadmium. Cadmium findings usually range depending on the cultivation area and the occurrence in the soil.
  In addition, it is recommended to include dioxins and PCBs in the risk assessment when changing cultivation areas, as contamination via the air pathway (sedimentation of soil particles or other dust on the plants) could play a role (see also our article "Overview of EU maximum levels for PAHs, dioxins and PCBs in edible oils and fats").
• Other contaminants whose occurrence varies according to oilseed, origin and type of production:
  PAHs are process contaminants that can arise, for example, during the drying and roasting of oilseeds before pressing. The Contaminants Regulation (EC) No. 1881/2006 sets a limit for oils intended for consumption as food for benzo(a)pyrene, which is classified as carcinogenic, and for the sum of benzo(a)pyrene, benz(a)anthracene, benz(b)fluoranthene and chrysene.
  3-MCPD esters and glycidyl esters are process contaminants that may be formed during the refining of oils, depending on the oilseed, origin and intensity of processing. Maximum levels for MCPD and glycidyl esters are also regulated in the Contaminants Regulation VO (EG) No. 1881/2006.
  Mineral oil hydrocarbons can enter the product in various ways from cultivation to the finished product. For fats and oils, orientation values have been set in Germany to support minimisation strategies.

The various countries of North/Central and South America are important producing countries for soya, rapeseed, sunflower and other oilseeds. In most of these countries, the cultivation of genetically modified plants is widespread and the risk of GMO entry should be assessed accordingly when switching to these countries.

• Sunflower: No commercial cultivation of genetically modified sunflower is taking place at present. However, there may be a risk of GMO entry via botanical contamination during harvest, transport and storage with rapeseed or soy. This applies in particular to cultivation countries such as Argentina and the USA, where, for example, in 2019, genetically modified soy is cultivated on far more than 90% of the soy cultivation area. In case the oil mills switch between different oilseeds during processing, there is also a risk of GMO contamination when switching between the processing of GM soy, GM rapeseed and sunflowers.
• Rapeseed: Large-scale cultivation of GM rapeseed is taking place in the producing countries Canada, USA and Australia. In the USA and Canada, the share in 2019 was 100% and 95%, respectively, while it was 27% in Australia (see also "New approval for GM rapeseed 73496").
• Soy: In the alternative producing countries in North, Central and South America, GM soy is grown on more than 90% of the respective soybean acreage. In Brazil, for example, the GMO share of soybean acreage was 96% in 2019 (see also "New authorisation for GM soy GMB151 and expiry of authorisation for GM soybean 356043-5").
• Mustard: Ukraine and Russia are important producing countries for mustard. Almost 52% of German imports of mustard seeds recently came from Russia, almost 28% from Ukraine. In Canada, the world's largest producer of mustard, genetically modified rapeseed is cultivated on a large scale. Mustard imports from Canada should therefore be checked for possible cross-contamination with GM rapeseed.
• Linseed: Ukraine and Russia are important countries for linseed cultivation. When switching to Canada, close monitoring should be carried out for the GM linseed event FP 967. In addition, botanical contamination with rapeseed in linseed is a potential source of GMO entry.

Various analyses are used to determine the chemical composition & value-determining components in vegetable oils, e.g.

• sensory profile
• free fatty acids
• peroxide value
• ...etc.

The authenticity of vegetable oils can be ensured through various procedures and approaches.

• The determination of identity (100% conformity with the declaration) can be carried out e.g. by means of gas chromatography and NMR analysis.
• Blending with other oils may be evident by deviations in the fatty acid profile, triglyceride and sterol distribution.